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Hinkley nuclear power station delay deals blow to government hopes
Hinkley nuclear power station delay deals blow to government hopes
Earthwork preparation of Hinkley site put back as election of Francois Hollande as French president hits confidence
Damian Carrington guardian.co.uk, Monday 14 May 2012 11.05 EDT
Massive earthworks needed to prepare the ground for a new nuclear power station at Hinkley in Somerset have been delayed, dealing a further blow to the government's energy plans.
Half of the big six energy firms have already abandoned their nuclear plans as too costly, but Hinkley is backed by the most pro-nuclear of them, EDF, which is 83% owned by the French state.
...
The delay comes at a highly sensitive time as EDF and other companies negotiate with the government over the financial support that will be available to nuclear and other low-carbon energy sources, such as wind and solar power.
On Friday, the chief executive of Centrica, which has a 20% stake in EDF's nuclear plans, issued a warning to ministers. "The investment case for nuclear has yet to be proven," Sam Laidlaw told investors. Earlier, EDF's chief executive, Vincent de Rivaz, said: "It is absolutely critical that the government continues to make steady, tangible progress with its electricity market reform plans." EDF has been criticised as being too close to government, providing full-time staff to work within the Department of Energy and Climate Change....
Earthwork preparation of Hinkley site put back as election of Francois Hollande as French president hits confidence
Damian Carrington guardian.co.uk, Monday 14 May 2012 11.05 EDT
Massive earthworks needed to prepare the ground for a new nuclear power station at Hinkley in Somerset have been delayed, dealing a further blow to the government's energy plans.
Half of the big six energy firms have already abandoned their nuclear plans as too costly, but Hinkley is backed by the most pro-nuclear of them, EDF, which is 83% owned by the French state.
...
The delay comes at a highly sensitive time as EDF and other companies negotiate with the government over the financial support that will be available to nuclear and other low-carbon energy sources, such as wind and solar power.
On Friday, the chief executive of Centrica, which has a 20% stake in EDF's nuclear plans, issued a warning to ministers. "The investment case for nuclear has yet to be proven," Sam Laidlaw told investors. Earlier, EDF's chief executive, Vincent de Rivaz, said: "It is absolutely critical that the government continues to make steady, tangible progress with its electricity market reform plans." EDF has been criticised as being too close to government, providing full-time staff to work within the Department of Energy and Climate Change....
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2012/may/14/hinkley-nuclear-power-station-delay
